An engineer with the firm tasked with renovations planned for the El Paso Corridor presented the Russellville City Council with preliminary plans of how the firm looks to turn the thoroughfare into a “complete street” at the council’s regular meeting Thursday.

Wade Walker, director of transportation planning with engineering firm Fuss and O’Neill and a consultant in the Walker Collaborative, presented plans to turn El Paso Avenue into a multi-modal street that will allow for use by cyclists, pedestrians and drivers, while potentially adding features such as streetscape or on-street parking.

“We want to make sure that in accordance with the [Downtown Master Plan] that we’re bringing a strong multi-modal connection into downtown,” Walker said.

Walker presented two section alternates the firm is considering — one 58-foot right-of-way with two 11-foot travel lanes and on each side of the road a 4-foot planted buffer; a 5-foot bicycle lane; a 4-foot amenity zone and a 5-foot sidewalk, and a74-foot right-of-way that would offer the same features, but a larger area between the bike and travel lanes to allow for on-street parking.

El Paso Avenue, formerly State Highway 7, has a 60-foot right-of-way south of H Street and an 80-foot right-of-way north of H Street.

Walker said the plans he presented to the council are only preliminary and hopes the firm will be ready to present its 30 percent completed plans to the public in August.

In other business, the Russellville City Council:

n Approved a line item transfer in the Street Department of $76,400 from the South Detroit Avenue project account to be put toward the South Glenwood Avenue project.

n Approved a line item transfer in the Street Department of $26,000 from “O” Street and State Highway 7 project funds to Arkansas and Reasoner Signal funds.

n Approved a line item appropriation of $2,155.16 to the Police Department for certificate pay for eight employees.

n Approved an appropriation of $1,345 to the general fund for building maintenance and supplies.

n Approved a line item appropriation of $1,099.28 to the Airport from part-time salaries to full-time.

n Approved a resolution to add a bonding service as a professional service, according to Arkansas Code 19-11-802.

n Approved a resolution for the transfer and/or sale of a pond located behind property at 2511 Bradley Lane.

n Approved an ordinance amending the Russellville Zoning Code.

n Approved resolutions for the removal or razings of dilapidated structures at 507A Water Street; 507B Water Street; and 511 Water Street.

n Approved a resolution to set a public hearing for July 19 to discuss vacating property owned by First Baptist Church at the intersection of 2nd Street and South Glenwood Avenue to allow for the intersection to be straightened.